Chapter Twelve: Friendship Cherished

Author's Note: I am so excited to be working with my beta reader and XXX from the staff of The Petulant Poetess. These two wonderful women have given me help and guidance, inspiration and support. My story has benefited immensely from their care and expertise. I also tip my hat to my first beta reader, XXX. I feel as though she is cheering me on, and I am so grateful for her support and encouragement.

As always, my debt to J.K. Rowling cannot be measured. I make no profit from my variations on her theme and claim no ownership of anything that belongs to her. I am profoundly grateful to be able to borrow her wonderful universe and characters.

To my readers, it's all for you. Your generosity and kindness recognize no bounds, and I thank you.

Chapter Twelve: Friendship Cherished

Hogwarts Museum, Entrance Hall, Ground Floor, Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, Hogsmeade, Scotland

Draco Malfoy, Chairman of the Board of Governors, rapped on the huge double doors of Hogwarts main entrance, and was let in by a bowing house-elf.

"Mr. Chairman Malfoy is most welcome. May Kreacher take Mr. Malfoy's cloak?"

"No, Kreacher, I am here to see the Headmistress. Is she in her office?"

"Madam Headmistress is with her advisory students. Shall Kreacher go and tell her Mr. Chairman is here?"

"Yes, please. I'd heard she's made some wonderful changes, and I came to see what all the fuss is about."

"Kreacher can show Mr. Chairman around the Museum, if Mr. Chairman wishes."

Kreacher led the way through double inner doors to the old Entrance Hall, and as they entered the formerly empty, echoing space, Draco looked around, his eyes widening with delight.

The center floor space held several clear glass display cases, with other wood-and-glass curio cabinets ranged around the walls. All the cabinets and cases held magical machines, devices, and gadgets, and each device had a neatly lettered card propped next to it or in front of it. The cards held information on each piece in the collection. In addition to the display cases, there were two padded benches and a study table in the center of the room. Sunlight flooded the room through clerestory windows high up in the north and south walls.

Kreacher led Draco around to each display case, proudly pointing out the various devices and explaining how they were used, and Draco simply had to smile at the sight of the miniature Curator. Instead of the traditional white Hogwarts tea towel with the embroidered school crest, Kreacher wore a black toga embroidered with his name and the words "Hogwarts Museum of Witchcraft and Wizardry" in elegant green script.

"This is excellent, Kreacher. You must be very proud of the Museum."

"Kreacher is very proud to be showing the Museum to Mr. Chairman Malfoy."

Draco looked around once again and then moved confidently through the Museum to the doors leading into the castle.

"I'll find my own way up to the Headmistress's office, Kreacher. Please pop in on her and let her know I am here, though."

"As Mr. Chairman Malfoy wishes." Kreacher gave a low bow and disapparated from the room.

Office of the Headmistress, Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, Hogsmeade, Scotland

"Merlin's curly beard, what have you done to the office?" Chairman Malfoy came into Madam Granger-Weasley's office at Hogwarts and looked around, his jaw dropping in surprise. "I saw the display cases in the entrance hall, but I never realized you'd taken them all out of this office, Hermione."

Hermione smiled at Draco and waved her hand around her spacious uncluttered office. "Draco, you saw the office when I first moved into it. I couldn't walk or breathe for all the STUFF in here. Professor Snape had the idea to use the old Entrance Hall as a museum, and he also thought of the idea of having students research all the gadgets as a special project for extra credit. We have a pupil who is a very talented artist, and she lettered all the cards."

"It's perfect. The glass cases protect the instruments so nothing will get broken or lost. You did ward the cases though, didn't you?"

"Professor Snape devised the wards for the display cases and taught me how to cast them."

Draco beamed. "It's marvelous. The Museum is a popular topic of conversation at the Ministry these days."

Now he looked around the office, clearly trying to assimilate all the changes. Rich Persian carpets still covered the stone floors. The sofa, chairs, and tea table still graced the area to the left of the door in front of the fireplace. The sofa and chairs had been re-covered in something sturdy and crisp...denim or twill of some kind. The sofa was covered in a fabric printed in narrow stripes of periwinkle and white. One flanking chair was periwinkle blue, the other a delicate floral print. Thin periwinkle curtains fluttered at the windows, and he could see heavy velvet drapes in the same blue, drawn back in each corner. Because the weather was warm, the drapes weren't needed to keep out the drafts. Draco didn't recognize anything else in the huge office.

To the far left of the door, beyond the sitting area, was the intimate dining area where Madam Granger-Weasley gave small suppers for the school's patrons and guest lecturers. The table would seat ten, and the chairs were comfortably cushioned. The Headmistress's china and crystal graced a heavy sideboard, but the entire area was remarkably free of clutter.

Albus Dumbledore's heavy Gothic oak desk had been replaced by a smaller, more delicate design in warm cherry. The surface of the desk hosted a quill and ink bottle, trays for incoming and outgoing letters, and a few framed photos. Two chairs faced the desk; low comfortable chairs cushioned in the same striped fabric as the sofa. A plush throw was draped over the back of one chair and another was thrown over the Headmistress's chair behind the desk. A tall cabinet to the right of the desk, with fabulous doors of Tiffany glass, concealed file drawers and the few magical devices Madam Granger-Weasley used on a regular basis.

"We have a rich heritage here at Hogwarts. It seemed fitting to put it on display downstairs, where it could be properly appreciated." Hermione smiled and took Draco's arm and ushered him to the sofa before the fireplace. "Do sit down, Draco. Winky is bringing tea."

Draco sank into the cushions of the sofa with an audible sigh of comfort. "This is extremely nice."

"I'm glad you approve. The upholstery is treated to be waterproof and easy to clean so it's pupil friendly."

And THAT was vintage Hermione Granger, always thinking of the welfare of house-elves. Draco rolled his eyes at the memory of S.P.E.W, her passion in fourth-year.

Hermione seated herself next to her guest and poured tea for him when it arrived. She had been Headmistress of Hogwarts for two years, and the students had never gotten a better education. She was introducing new subjects to the curriculum and new methods of teaching, but in such a thoughtful, well planned manner that the Board of Governors readily supported each change.

Draco had even heard one member of the board remark to another that Madam Granger-Weasley was "a sensible little woman with a lot of good ideas." Draco wasn't sure how he could pass the compliment along to Hermione without getting punched for the 'little woman' part, but perhaps she would forgive it if he explained that the wizard who'd said it had just celebrated his hundred-and-forty-fifth birthday.

They chatted over their tea, and then Draco looked up at Hermione and put down his tea cup. It was time to discuss the real reason he'd come. "I saw a birth announcement in the Daily Prophet this morning. Weasel and his wife have another new baby?"

Hermione smiled gently. "Yes, their second child. Seems Caroline is willing to give him that Quidditch team he always wanted."

"I don't like to pry, and you seem to be doing fine. But when I saw the announcement, I wanted to be sure."

"I'm very happy, Draco. Mr. Attenbury took care of everything for me, and Ron is honoring the conditions of our settlement. He visits them all the time, and puts money in their Gringotts accounts every month. When they leave Hogwarts, each of them will have enough gold to pay for college. I sold our flat in London, as well, but the galleons are just gathering dust in my vault at Gringotts right now. I haven't decided what I want to buy. Actually I haven't decided IF I want to buy anything right now. There's no real hurry, after all."

"I could recommend a broker for you if you're interested in investing. Daphne mentioned the notice in the paper, and we were both concerned that you might be feeling sad."

Hermione smiled. "I'm genuinely touched by your concern and Daphne's, but I am happier than I have been in a long time, actually. I really love my work here at the school, Draco. It's so exciting. Don't get me wrong, I love Molly and Arthur and all my brothers-in-law and Ginny. I even grew rather fond of Fleur. But I never quite fit in, you know. In the summer at the Burrow, everyone would be outside watching the grandkids play Quidditch, and I would be in the house trying to avoid the noise and find something to read." She wrinkled her nose and shook her head and Draco laughed. "Believe me, I'm quite happy."

"You're held in very high regard by the Board of Governors and the Ministry."

"That pleases me very much." Her eyes were sparkling with happiness, and suddenly she laughed.

"What's funny?"

"I was just remembering what Mr. Collins told me after he toured the school three months ago."

William Collins was the old wizard who'd called Hermione a sensible little woman, so Draco waited impatiently to hear what the outspoken old wizard had said to her. "What did he say? Come on, Granger, I can't wait to hear this."

"He said...and this is a direct quote, mind you...'Very sensible changes, Madam Granger-Weasley, very sensible. I'm quite surprised; I had expected much worse from a modern young woman who can't be satisfied with one name and has to clutter up the parchment with all these dashes and dots'...end quote. Then he asked me if I was the one Professor Snape always called the Insufferable Know-It-All."

Draco chuckled. "In case you hadn't guessed, William Collins was in Slytherin."

"No, really? I never would have guessed."

"Five points from Gryffindor for impertinence, Miss Granger," Draco teased.

There was a pause in the conversation, and then Hermione asked, "Am I really doing well, Draco? Or are they just saying what they think I want to hear?"

"You're ABSOLUTELY doing well. You've made ME a hero to the board, you know. I have been one of your most vocal advocates since Minerva recommended you as Deputy Headmistress, recommended you over the heads of more experienced teachers who'd been at the school much longer. The Governors see you doing so well with the school and they remember that." He pointedly blew on his fingernails and buffed them on his robe. "Thank you for making me look so good."

She dissolved in giggles and Draco laughed along with her. "Seriously, Granger, you're doing fine."

He looked around the office again, finally noticing that most of the portraits were gone.

"I just noticed. What did you do with all the portraits?"

She chuckled again.

"The short answer is we moved them downstairs when the castle grew space for a gallery. The former Headmasters and Headmistresses got very lonely here with only each other to talk to. I'm not in the office much during the day, as I am still advising in Arithmancy and Potions, even though I'm not actually teaching the classes any more. With all the portraits downstairs in their own gallery, the pupils can go there at any time and ask for advice, and the portraits are anxious to help. I think they enjoy all the attention."

"And the long story?"

"Great merciful Merlin, it was a nightmare. Salazar Slytherin was the WORST, but the other Headmasters and Headmistresses were nearly as bad. Not one of them was appointed Headmaster or Headmistress before age seventy-five, so I heard comments all the time about my youth and my lack of maturity. Of course they didn't like the fact that I am Muggle-born, either. They questioned my magical talent till they saw me demonstrating some hexes in a Defense class one day when Harry became ill during class. Then they decided that I MUST be the illegitimate child of some Pure-blood house, because 'everyone knows Muggle-borns just aren't as magically talented as those of purer blood.'" Hermione snorted her disgust. "Then they didn't like my being divorced. Apparently, I should have closed my eyes to Ron's having a 'fancy piece on the side.' I could go on, but surely you get the general idea?"

Draco shuddered. "I do, indeed."

"So I had to figure out some way to get them out of this office without hurting their feelings, and the next morning when I came downstairs, the castle had moved the walls and bumped out a large alcove on the north side of the Museum and a smaller one on the south side. The smaller one is for Albus and Minerva. They have their own special gallery."

Draco glanced up at the portrait of his godfather which still hung above the fireplace and raised his eyebrows in question.

"Hullo, Uncle Severus. It's good to see you without my having to go down to the Gallery."

Hermione smiled, her eyes sparkling with mischief.

"Professor Snape preferred to remain sequestered here in my office."

"He preferred... That's... extraordinary." Draco could not fathom that. Something was going on here. His godfather and the Headmistress traded conspiratorial glances; clearly they shared some private amusement.

"Miss Granger indulged my request to remain here, knowing how tempted I would be to take house points from misbehaving students. They tend to be more careless, or perhaps more daring, when there are no teachers present."

The comment was vintage Severus Snape, perfectly enunciated and edged in acid, but Hermione was smiling and Snape's eyes were filled with humour. Draco suddenly felt as though the ground he was standing on had tilted just a little, leaving him on an uncertain footing. He didn't say anything about it, but grew rather quiet as he finished his tea and made his farewells.

When Draco had gone, Hermione looked up at Professor Snape and spoke severely, belying the sparkle in her eyes.

"It was really unkind of you to let Draco think you can still take points away."

"All I said, Miss Granger, was that you knew how tempted I would be to take points. Neither of us actually said I could do so."

He smirked and continued, "You were entirely truthful and so was I. The students are more daring, or more careless, when unsupervised, and I would find it extremely tempting to take points away. The only thing we neglected to tell my godson is that I cannot actually do so."

"Why lie, when misdirection will do?" She nodded her head in sympathy.

"Exactly! Misdirection is so much more subtle."

Laughing, Hermione went back to the pupil lists she was checking, and Snape picked up the book that rested on the table beside his chair, but did not open it and start reading. In the comfortable silence, he thought back to the portrait fiasco and Miss Granger's surprising solution.

She had nearly gone mad with all the portraits of the former Heads of School in her office. Whether they wanted to advise her or patronize her, the former Headmasters and Headmistresses all enjoyed her attention, and spent a great deal of time trying to talk to her. Unfortunately, it was time that she simply didn't have. Always respectful, hesitant to hurt feelings, Miss Granger was in a dreadful position. The wizarding world had changed a lot since the subjects of the portraits had lived and worked at Hogwarts, but they didn't realize it and insisted on giving her out-dated advice.

The breaking point had been reached when Salazar Slytherin had protested that Ron's support payments for Hugo and Rose should be managed by Harry Potter, since Hermione could not be trusted to handle money, and her father was unsuitable by virtue of being a Muggle. As her brother-in-law and a teacher at Hogwarts, Harry Potter was her nearest male relative.

Snape had braced himself for the fireworks he was sure would follow, but with admirable restraint Hermione had made some polite reply, and then, when the old wizard was asleep, had covered his painting with a thick black tablecloth. Salazar had sputtered and raged behind his curtain when he had awakened, but Hermione had ignored him and eventually he had fallen silent.

Later that evening, when most of the portraits were sleeping, she looked up with a sigh to the portrait of the one former Headmaster whose company she truly enjoyed.

"Yes, Miss Granger? Out with it, I can see you are thinking of something."

"This is a lovely office."

"Now that you have put away all the targs and daggers, stuffed Highland Cows, and ersatz bagpipes, the office is becoming pleasant. What has that to do with anything?"

"I was just thinking that I would almost rather be back in my old office. I know all these people mean well, and I'm sure they are charming if you speak to them individually." The pencil she was holding snapped in her hand, as she finished, mutinously, "But trying to make even the tiniest decision causes so much debate and enmity that I feel I'm watching a session of Muggle Parliament. There's got to be a better solution than this."

"I am sure you will find it, Miss Granger." And she had.

The display cases of instruments had already been moved to the Entrance Hall. Two seventh-year Ravenclaws had begged the privilege of researching them, and their findings were written up and displayed along with the devices. The two seventh years had done the research as a special project and earned extra credit for their time and trouble, which pleased them and their Head of House. The solution pleased Hermione because it uncluttered her office.

The morning after her conversation with Snape, Hermione had gone down to the entrance hall to find that the castle walls had moved. Deep alcoves now protruded onto the lawn on the north and south sides of the Museum. In that moment, Hermione had a flash of inspiration, and set the house-elves to laying down some fine rugs and bringing in backless cushioned benches, such as one would find in an art gallery. Then she had gone back to her office and asked for the attention of all the portraits on the walls.

"I have asked for your attention today because Hogwarts has a great need, which I believe only you can fulfill," she began and watched as the portraits woke up and nudged their neighbors.

"I know that you are all pledged, on your oath as witches or wizards, to help the current Head of School." A murmur of agreement rippled around the office. "I find I can best use your help by giving you a lovely new gallery on the ground floor, where the pupils can come and meet you, talk to you, ask your advice. You know far more about Hogwarts than I ever will, and our pupils need your guidance, badly. The Wizarding world is changing very fast these days, and many of them come from untraditional families. Many of them are children of orphans, who have no extended family to help bring them up properly. Would you be willing to make yourselves available to our young people? This is service you alone can give, and it will benefit everyone at Hogwarts."

That was all it took to secure the agreement of the portraits. They found Hermione's office very quiet and quite boring, because she was almost never in it until late at night. Many of them missed teaching and wanted to interact with the students again. In very short order, the house-elves were unsticking the portraits from the walls and carting them down to the new gallery.

When all the relocation was done, Hermione had come back to her now quiet and uncluttered office, flung herself onto the sofa by the fireplace and smiled up at the portrait of Severus Snape.

"And has all been arranged to your satisfaction, Miss Granger?"

"Yes, thank you, it has. Are you quite sure you don't wish to have another portrait of yourself down in the entrance hall? Won't you be lonely up here all by yourself?"

"I thank you, Miss Granger, but that is entirely unnecessary. I prefer the solitude. Your company suits me because you are not offended if I have little to say. If you have some pressing need for me to have a place down in the hall, I will support your decision, but I would prefer to remain here."

Hermione looked up at him for a moment, the previous two years flashing through her mind. She really did enjoy the company of this reserved, thoughtful wizard.

"Professor, though it is incredibly selfish of me to admit this, I enjoy your company so much, I would prefer to have your portrait remain here."

He inclined his head an inch or so and murmured, "As you wish, Madam Headmistress." His words were formal, but this time he made no attempt to hide the smile that curved up the corners of his mouth.

~OoO~

"I never hated Harry Potter, Miss Granger. I felt a great deal of frustration that he could not see how dangerous his behavior was. He did remind me a great deal of his father. Both of them so quick to act, so slow to think until after the deed was done. I must admit that Mr. Harry Potter does not seem to have the meanness that James possessed then."

Hermione had dozens of questions she longed to ask Professor Snape. She wanted desperately to know about his dealings with Moony, Wormtail, Padfoot and Prongs, and especially about Lily Potter. She couldn't admit it, even to herself, but his devotion to Lily both made her sad and gave her shivers. What must it be like to be loved as Snape had loved Lily Potter?

It was late on a summer night, and the castle was extremely quiet, since school was not in session. Hermione had opened the office windows, and the cool night air flowed in, bringing with it the scents of lake and forest.

"I wish Harry had known more about his parents."

"May I ask why, Miss Granger?" Professor Snape was looking at her intently; she could feel the force of his gaze, even if he was sitting with his head tilted down slightly so his hair obscured his eyes.

Hermione blushed, but answered honestly.

"Harry showed me the memories you gave him in the Shrieking Shack, the day you... the day of... the day of the last battle."

"The day I died, Miss Granger?"

She sighed. "I hate to say that. I can't forgive myself, you know, that we didn't do anything to help you."

He sighed and rubbed his fingers over the bridge of his nose.

"I wish you would not be troubled, Miss Granger. I hope I can reassure you that there is nothing you could have done."

"We should have tried."

"No, it's better that you did not attempt it. You would have failed and possibly paid for your failure with your lives."

"But you did so much for all of us. Harry says you did more in the fight against Voldemort than he did; maybe even more than Headmaster Dumbledore, if the truth be told. We should have tried to help you."

"Miss Granger, had you three interfered with the Dark Lord's plans, you and Mr. Weasley would have been killed, and the Dark Lord would have confronted Mr. Potter before he learned about the final Horcrux. The result would have been the doom of the Wizarding world. I beg you not to trouble yourself over this. I have found peace, Miss Granger, and an unexpected joy in the existence I have now."

Hermione was glad that he had found peace, but an impossible frustration filled her heart. In the time since she had been appointed Headmistress and moved into this office, she had grown to care deeply for the man in the portrait.

She had wished for a Time Turner so she could go back and fix the past, but what could she have done? Hex the Dark Lord? Behead Nagini as soon as they had seen the snake? What might her life have been like if Professor Snape had survived? Would they have become friends, somehow? She almost snarled in frustration. It was so unfair that this man, who had sacrificed so much, should have been killed in such a horrible way. And it was miserably unfair that Ron should be happy with his new wife, while the man Hermione had grown to love was nothing more than paint on a canvas.

"Miss Granger?"

She jerked her thoughts back to the present at the sound of his voice.

"I'm sorry, I was remembering that day. And wishing it could have been different. Somehow."

He spoke very gently now.

"Miss Granger... Hermione, if I may be so bold. Had I not died, that day, I still do not know if we would be here now, enjoying one another's company as we have these past months."

"Things would have been different. You would at least be alive, to enjoy the rest of your life without the shadow of Voldemort hanging over you."

"It's possible, of course, that had I survived, my life would have been the utopia you seem to be imagining. It's also quite possible that, had I been saved, Mr. Potter might not have killed the Dark Lord. The Light might have been overthrown. I prefer not to agonize over either outcome. Instead, I try to enjoy today, and what I have now."

She looked directly at him and asked, "And that is?"

He paused for a moment, and she could see that he was carefully considering what he intended to say.

"I have the knowledge that I kept my promises, Miss Granger, and prevented Draco Malfoy from making a ghastly mistake. I protected Mr. Potter to the best of my ability, which honors the love I had for his mother, Lily. I know she has forgiven me for betraying her friendship. I kept my promise to Headmaster Dumbledore and made atonement for the evil deeds I did during my lifetime. And now I delight in your company, you, intelligent, kind, and lovely as you are. I feel very privileged to enjoy such a close association with you, Miss Granger."

Hermione felt her eyes fill with tears.

"I feel the same way, Professor Snape. I am honored to know you."

For a moment the office was very quiet, and then Professor Snape spoke almost hesitantly.

"Perhaps, as you have made no objection to my addressing you as Hermione, you would accord me the honor of calling me Severus?"

"I would like that very much."

~OoO~

Prompt Information

My modifications: The story is written about a portrait and not a ghost. I only borrowed Hermione being in love with Severus from prompt 8.